Mon Dec 29 10:34:00 2014 Joe it's going to take some time. TG has the road bike mentality yet. Keeps referring to the feel of her rode bike in comparison to the Fat Bike. We made some drastic changes to her seat height, up 2" in one shot. But I think it helped. She had 10# in both tires and we were rode riding so I left them up. She was able to see how the squat of my tires @ 4# front and 6# rear made for a more stable ride on the road how she really sunk in the snow on the trails and I floated. I hope I got across to her to that gearing down is really important for hill climbing and tougher condtions. I know her legs had to be burning. We have a long winter ahead and her hubby Curt should have his Pugsley as we speak. If they keep riding I figure they'll be set up close to perfect two weeks from now. You just have to be willing to experiment while your out riding cold or not.

Fri Dec 26 09:51:00 2014 T~ It will take some getting used to; it's unlike any other bike you've thrown a leg over!! Give yourself some time to become a custom to the ride/feel of your new ride!! For your height, Marty's right.... It should fit you fine. The next step down is an XS frame, and Surly only goes down to a 14" frame. In comparison our son rides an XS (13" frame) 9:zero:7 and it fits him perfectly. For snow riding smaller (for some people) is better. Since when you step off "most of the time" you're not stepping off on solid ground. You'll get some "sink" into the snow. Play around with air pressure to find your maximum float range. Marty and Frank have heard me say this before....... Different snow conditions will call for different psi, a quality mini HV air pump and a LOW pressure air gauge are invaluable in helping you find the "sweet spot." I say HIGH VOLUME because you don't a need high pressure pump like for your road bike. Make sense?? If you have any questions don't be afraid to ask....... Frank and Marty also know what I'm talking about, so they'd be another couple people to throw questions to. Above all, enjoy the ride of the FatBike!!! It's not about speed..... It's about going where you've never thought possible before on two wheels!!!! If your legs can push you, you'll surprise yourself each and every ride!! Ha Ha Peace, Joe

Mon Dec 22 00:11:00 2014 Joe I took my Pugsley out for my first ride today. Not sure I got the right size fat tire bike. It's a 14"..I am only 5'5 7/8" The bike was fun but rides so much diffently than my mtb or touring bike.

Mon Dec 8 00:24:00 2014 I've found the same thing Frank!!! "Those things cost that much!!??!!" Is what I hear a lot.I always say.... Do you hunt, fish (own a boat), own a wheeler? Some people get what I'm say, others not so much. Lol

Thu Dec 4 18:51:00 2014 Good read Joe.I was trying to be a Fat Bike Ambassador this afternoon but it is really hard to explain the feeling you get riding bikes. Benefits are of course obvious. Most are turned away by the price.

Fri Nov 7 10:05:00 2014 Anybody on the fence about a FatBike??Mrs. Gregory???Check this out!!!http://winterbikeexpo.comDemo your heart away!! No better way to find out what's what, and what truly works for "you!!!"Peace, Joe

Mon Oct 13 23:47:00 2014 Rode horse today for a change of pace. Felt a little weird not riding a bike. Doc said I need to mix it up more. I am going through withdrawals.....I want to finish with 6000 miles for the year. So close..yet feels so far!

Sat Sep 13 07:58:00 2014 I really wish they'd make the final couple of connections.Besides giving the Mesabi Trail Tour more route options...... i could see pedaling ones way to Ely's Blueberry Festival; let alone the other fun the area has to offer!!Craig......... maybe it's a Itasca county vs. St. Louis county thing?? Lol

Thu Sep 11 10:07:00 2014 While Biking the Mesabi Trail yesterday I had a conversation with some MnDot workers. Found out about 6 miles of the trail will be getting a new pave job in the next week. This will be from the start of the trail at the Itasca County Fairgrounds up to Gunn Park. Which covers a little over 3 miles of the main trail and then the nearly 3 mile spur up to Gunn Park. Just an FYI for you potential MT riders.

Sun Sep 7 20:42:00 2014 After reading the posting from the League of American Cyclists about somebody riding for 24 hours (300 miles) I started questioning my miles. I am wondering what constitutes "sport" riding. Is my 150 mile gravel grind to Windom on a fully loaded Fargo the same as someone riding a madone in the defeat of the Younger Brothers ride. Was my 14 mile round trip on a fixie to town this evening for an ice cream cone sport of transport?

Wed Sep 3 15:16:00 2014 The Classic would be good for children. Streets are blocked and intersections are police attended and directed. Lots and lots of bikes. Rider speed is not an issue. Jesse James might be a bit scary for kids. There are some trucks that pass at high speed and the streets are not blocked off. Wild, Wild, West. Great ride though, especially the century.

Wed Sep 3 08:01:00 2014 Anybody here ever ride in the St. Paul Classic or the Jesse James? If so, would the Classic be a good ride for (two experienced) children riders?Thanks in advance! Pedal On!!Peace

Fri Aug 15 20:01:00 2014 Thank you Greg And Peter for responding back I'm going down tomorrow start in Carlton Wife driving me down there, Barnim fair going on. I think she will hang out there Maybe see Joe on trail

Fri Aug 15 08:20:00 2014 #Larry - We rode from Hinckley to Duluth last weekend. The 12 miles from Carlton to Duluth was a mixture of newly paved, crushed rock, and old pavement, but you can get to Duluth (the trail was closed right after the bridge into Duluth.

Thu Aug 14 19:43:00 2014 @Larry~I'll be pedaling from Carlton, maybe Barnum to Hinckley on Friday. Cindi's family reunion over this weekend. I'll get MY own long ride in before I'm the ride leader for a bunch of ankle-biters!! Lol I shouldn't laugh...... they pedal hard!! :)Peace

Tue Aug 12 09:43:00 2014 OK so I did this 300K race in Dodgeville, WI over the weekend - the "Dairyland Dare". The distance was actually 188.5 miles and my moving time was 9:45:00 which I calculated out to 52,650 pedal strokes. No wonder the velcro strap to which the timing chip was attached wore the back of my achilles tendon raw. Now that's a lot of pedaling!

Fri Aug 8 18:40:00 2014 Marty--yes, you would think it was a major chore. I simply stepped down from a step-ladder---did not jump, slip, fall, twist--just stepped down---annoying. I have to say my knee has done very well once I saw someone and got the problem fixed. My ortho doc also rides a bike, so he was fine with me riding up until the day before surg and being back on as soon as I was--albeit some pretty level easy riding the first couple of weeks. I think cycling helped a lot for recovery--both physically and mentally! Peter---hope your hamstring is singing a happier tune for you!

Sat Aug 2 20:28:00 2014 Peter---sorry about your hamstring---treat it well--we bikers recover fast. I started out June with a torn meniscus in my knee and needing an arthroscopy----it only kept me completely off of my bike for 10 days. Resulted from housework---just shows I should ride and forget housework :) Tim, Glacier Park is spectacular---hope you are riding Going to the Sun Highway(aka Logan's pass)---it is one fabulous view after another--Enjoy!

Wed Jul 30 09:26:00 2014 Given the late start, I'm very happy with the miles I've gotten in this season so far. Most of my big miles have been focused on training for the Wisconsin Triple Crown and the last of the three events is August 10th, so I will probably lay off a little:-)

I still have a bike tour of Glacier Natonal Park and a camping trip on the North Shore to go. Plenty of commuting too but I will re-start marathon training and the bike will have to take a bit of a back seat starting in September. Congrats to all you over-achievers by the way - and you know who you are! What a dedicated group!

Thu Jul 24 17:40:00 2014 Greg if we can help let us know. Even with a late start this year I to am happy with my mileage to date, 9 miles short of 2000. 37 miles short of 1000 for the month. Congrats on the weight loss : )

Thu Jul 24 09:41:00 2014 @Marty - last year I had 228 miles total. This year I have 1628 miles to date. When I started in April, my original goal in May was 200 miles, June was 250, July was 300, etc. They have be slightly modified to May goal 450 (actual 451), June goal 500 (actual 568), July goal 600 (increased again from 500), etc. Never thought I could do it, but I hope to have 3,000 miles by the end of challenge.So for me, it was a lot more miles than I thought I could ever do!

Mon Jul 21 10:34:00 2014 Not much. I prefer to avoid 35, particularly in Harley season. I was in it for the hills so I started in Prescott moving through a hill loop that I usually do, then drop through Hager City, over to Red Wing, then south on 58 to CR 5 to Lake City and up CR 4 over to Wabasha then across to Nelson, through Pepin and the up CR CC and a hill loop through Pepin County up to Pierce County occasionally dropping back to 35 before returning to do my Prescott loop in reverse. It's a nice loop, particularly the Wisconsin county roads and paved town roads.

Thu Jul 17 09:11:00 2014 I love being able to commute the 10 miles to/and back from work in the Minnesota heat! My work has a shower and fitness center and allows me to bring my bike inside! What a great place to work!

Sun Jul 13 18:33:00 2014 Today was a day to not concentrate on mileage but to complete a promise. The promise was to my grand daughter that when she rode her bike without training wheels I would pack my bike in the car and we would ride together. We went around the block twice-once with her 4 year old sister on her bike with the training wheels and once just the 2 of us! it was a wonderful day!

Wed Jul 9 17:14:00 2014 Great, just turn right at the Holiday Station or left if coming from 94, down two blocks is the Trailhead. Go past the church one block turn right and come back to the parking lot. 715 it is, it will be fun : )

Sat Jul 5 12:22:00 2014 Greg still on for the 13th whenever you arrive at St Joe Trailhead. Some may go out earlier and that's fine we all know where we are going. Can't leave without you. This weekend we have Tour of Saints @ St Ben's out of St Joe. Could be a wet ride.

Wed Jul 2 20:48:00 2014 No later than 8 I would think. Sooner the better 82 and Sunny for Saturday. Greg's ride we'll let him decide. Two century rides in one week whew!!!You can do it Marty come join us...I have two other recumbent riders thinking about going with us.

Wed Jul 2 00:20:00 2014 Greg & Frank...what time on the 13th should we met in St. Joseph? Early? Anyone one else out there want to join us for a little ride to Osakis? Curt (husband) is thinking of joining us. All are welcome & need be we will have SAG help along the way. Keep spinning those spokes!

Thu Jun 26 23:00:00 2014 I had a nice exchange on the corridor today. I might have to ride it more if I make a friend every time I go down it! It was not me Greg but thanks for sharing and maybe I will see you on there sometime!

Thu Jun 26 18:00:00 2014 I had a nice exchange on the corridor today. I might have to ride it more if I make a friend every time I go down it! It was not me Greg but thanks for sharing and maybe I will see you on there sometime!

Thu Jun 26 14:43:00 2014 If the rider that drafted me yesterday at Coon Rapid dam is reading this, I just want to thank you for making one of the worst rides of the year into one of the best. I guess I am a bit of a poser in that I ride a pretty nice bike, and put on a lot of miles, but since I am overweight and don’t wear spandex (though I do, it’s just covered in mountain biking shorts), the “real” cyclist can’t take the time to return a wave or a nod or reply to me telling them to have a great ride when stopped at a crossroad. The rider that drafted me was the first to actually have a conversation with me and treated me like a peer. Although we only rode together for 3 or 4 miles, it really meant a lot to me and I hope you are reading this.

Thu Jun 26 09:43:00 2014 If the rider that drafted me yesterday at Coon Rapid dam is reading this, I just want to thank you for making one of the worst rides of the year into one of the best. I guess I am a bit of a poser in that I ride a pretty nice bike, and put on a lot of miles, but since I am overweight and don’t wear spandex (though I do, it’s just covered in mountain biking shorts), the “real” cyclist can’t take the time to return a wave or a nod or reply to me telling them to have a great ride when stopped at a crossroad. The rider that drafted me was the first to actually have a conversation with me and treated me like a peer. Although we only rode together for 3 or 4 miles, it really meant a lot to me and I hope you are reading this.

Mon Jun 23 13:38:00 2014 George,You made of sugar??? ;)You skinny tired bikers are really very fickle!!Does it have something to do with the size of your tires??? I know me and my "clown like" balloon tires don't mind the rain, then again, all that know me; know I'm far from made of sugar!!! LOLHa Ha Ha Pedal On… whatever tires you like!!!

Mon Jun 23 08:38:00 2014 George,You made of sugar??? ;)You skinny tired bikers are really very fickle!!Does it have something to do with the size of your tires??? I know me and my "clown like" balloon tires don't mind the rain, then again, all that know me; know I'm far from made of sugar!!! LOLHa Ha Ha Pedal On… whatever tires you like!!!

Sat Jun 21 15:26:00 2014 I was hit by a car on my bike Saturday. Thank god I walked away, had some damage to the bike so hopefully going to pick it up this weekend or early next week. I'm going through withdrawls.

Sat Jun 21 10:26:00 2014 I was hit by a car on my bike Saturday. Thank god I walked away, had some damage to the bike so hopefully going to pick it up this weekend or early next week. I'm going through withdrawls.

Fri Jun 20 05:04:00 2014 July 20th a 70ish couple from CMBC will be celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary. All of usfrom the club are invited to attend. We are suppose to wear our club jerseys & shirts...so long story short the 20th is out for me. By the way the "groom may have some dust on the bottle" but he is a peddling machine...he can fly like the wind & go & go & go & go!!!!

Fri Jun 20 04:29:00 2014 OK my friend we are on, God willing we will make this happen or whatever we can pedal that day. Once we are past Melrose we will probably have the trail to ourselves. Are trails don't get packed like they do down south. Sounds like more may join us for this ride. Will stay in touch, just keep turning your spokes : )

Fri Jun 20 00:04:00 2014 July 20th a 70ish couple from CMBC will be celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary. All of usfrom the club are invited to attend. We are suppose to wear our club jerseys & shirts...so long story short the 20th is out for me. By the way the "groom may have some dust on the bottle" but he is a peddling machine...he can fly like the wind & go & go & go & go!!!!

Thu Jun 19 23:29:00 2014 OK my friend we are on, God willing we will make this happen or whatever we can pedal that day. Once we are past Melrose we will probably have the trail to ourselves. Are trails don't get packed like they do down south. Sounds like more may join us for this ride. Will stay in touch, just keep turning your spokes : )

Thu Jun 19 21:11:00 2014 Greg you can keep up...Frank is on the Big River Riders team & a part of the Central Minnesota Bicycle Club ( Free - just sign a waiver). I will join you also if you would like. We have some great routes up in Central MN. Last year hubby was SAG for another bicyclist & I who wanted to ride from St.Joseph to Alexandria & back the last weekend in july on The Lake Woebegone Trail. I enjoyed the ride & it made me realize anything is possible...Just Do It...let nothing stop you. Good luck on the surgery...and keep looking up^

Thu Jun 19 19:07:00 2014 Frank - lets pencil in July 13th. It appears that you are NW of the Twin Cities so what do you think about St. Joseph to Osakis and back? Not sure how busy Lake Wobegone trail is on a Saturday though.

Thu Jun 19 16:11:00 2014 Greg you can keep up...Frank is on the Big River Riders team & a part of the Central Minnesota Bicycle Club ( Free - just sign a waiver). I will join you also if you would like. We have some great routes up in Central MN. Last year hubby was SAG for another bicyclist & I who wanted to ride from St.Joseph to Alexandria & back the last weekend in july on The Lake Woebegone Trail. I enjoyed the ride & it made me realize anything is possible...Just Do It...let nothing stop you. Good luck on the surgery...and keep looking up^

Thu Jun 19 16:10:00 2014 Ah Man the outsides only skin deep, it's what's on the inside that counts. Little scarred up myself. Only dates I couldn't do is the 7th & 10th. Hopefully there won't be any surgery this round. I have to go to Iowa next week for a week, so I will check board again first week of July and we will get this done.

Hey Marty, if I get laid up again in the near future I will read it. Other than that it will have to wait until freeze up : ) You don't have to caught me I ride at a comfortable cadence when riding alone and at the same pace as those I'm riding with.

Thu Jun 19 15:28:00 2014 Frank - let’s set up something. It is hard to make long term plans, but how about either July 13th or July 20th. I am not sure about distance, but I should be good for at least 50 miles and hopefully ready for another 100. Word of caution, I have a pretty nasty 2 foot scar on my leg where they removed a bone and my jaw is still swollen to grapefruit size from the 1st surgery back in February, so I ani't pretty :)

Thu Jun 19 15:27:00 2014 Greg- good luck with your surgery. Frank- 68 years young? That's fantastic. No wonder you've been slapping me around on the leaders board. You're too strong and experience for me to catch you. Has anyone read "Younger Next Year" by Chris Crowley? It's an outstanding book (and my favorite). It's for us guys in our 50's, 60's and 70's that aren't about to grow old.

Thu Jun 19 15:03:00 2014 OK my biking friend, "Live Strong'. Like Theresa said it's all mental when your on your bike. Good luck with your surgery, keep posting and I really hope to see you on the road this year.

Thu Jun 19 14:14:00 2014 Thanks for all the encouragement. I am having surgery tomorrow, and depending on how that goes, I hope to book the trip while still in the hospital. My wife and 3-year old grandson will be riding SAG. This will give my brand new Felt road bike a good break in.Frank - thanks for the offer, but looking at your stats, I don't think I could keep up with you :)

Thu Jun 19 14:07:00 2014 Frank - lets pencil in July 13th. It appears that you are NW of the Twin Cities so what do you think about St. Joseph to Osakis and back? Not sure how busy Lake Wobegone trail is on a Saturday though.

Thu Jun 19 11:10:00 2014 Ah Man the outsides only skin deep, it's what's on the inside that counts. Little scarred up myself. Only dates I couldn't do is the 7th & 10th. Hopefully there won't be any surgery this round. I have to go to Iowa next week for a week, so I will check board again first week of July and we will get this done.

Hey Marty, if I get laid up again in the near future I will read it. Other than that it will have to wait until freeze up : ) You don't have to caught me I ride at a comfortable cadence when riding alone and at the same pace as those I'm riding with.

Thu Jun 19 10:28:00 2014 Frank - let’s set up something. It is hard to make long term plans, but how about either July 13th or July 20th. I am not sure about distance, but I should be good for at least 50 miles and hopefully ready for another 100. Word of caution, I have a pretty nasty 2 foot scar on my leg where they removed a bone and my jaw is still swollen to grapefruit size from the 1st surgery back in February, so I ani't pretty :)

Thu Jun 19 10:27:00 2014 Greg- good luck with your surgery. Frank- 68 years young? That's fantastic. No wonder you've been slapping me around on the leaders board. You're too strong and experience for me to catch you. Has anyone read "Younger Next Year" by Chris Crowley? It's an outstanding book (and my favorite). It's for us guys in our 50's, 60's and 70's that aren't about to grow old.

Thu Jun 19 10:03:00 2014 OK my biking friend, "Live Strong'. Like Theresa said it's all mental when your on your bike. Good luck with your surgery, keep posting and I really hope to see you on the road this year.

Thu Jun 19 09:14:00 2014 Thanks for all the encouragement. I am having surgery tomorrow, and depending on how that goes, I hope to book the trip while still in the hospital. My wife and 3-year old grandson will be riding SAG. This will give my brand new Felt road bike a good break in.Frank - thanks for the offer, but looking at your stats, I don't think I could keep up with you :)

Thu Jun 19 03:52:00 2014 Greg if you are serious about the century ride let me know, I'll ride it with you. I to have cancer and know what it's like not knowing what tomorrow will bring. The only thing I can add to what has already been mentioned is to bring along music to help with the ride if you are so into it. Makes the miles go by faster. Just finished a ride from Hinckley to Carlton last month 112 round trip, 8.5 hrs with rest stops. Make your goal 12-14 mph and take the 19-20 when they are handed to you. And remember never stop pedaling. Oh yeah and I'm 68 years young.

Wed Jun 18 22:52:00 2014 Greg if you are serious about the century ride let me know, I'll ride it with you. I to have cancer and know what it's like not knowing what tomorrow will bring. The only thing I can add to what has already been mentioned is to bring along music to help with the ride if you are so into it. Makes the miles go by faster. Just finished a ride from Hinckley to Carlton last month 112 round trip, 8.5 hrs with rest stops. Make your goal 12-14 mph and take the 19-20 when they are handed to you. And remember never stop pedaling. Oh yeah and I'm 68 years young.

Wed Jun 18 00:58:00 2014 Greg - Bicycling is 90% mental, 10% physical. Get a good sturdy bike & a good bike fit. Start riding early in the morning, pace yourself, ride at your level not anyone else's. Take plenty of water & healthy snacks. Map out your route, know where the toilets are & that includes shade, know what the weather forecast will be for the day. Take a change of socks, if you have access to a lake or river soak your feet for a little bit, dry feet, put on fresh socks. I am in my mid 50's, 40#s over weight, ride a good sturdy bike, & tell people to eat rocks when they tell me I should stay off a bicycle because of a serious health condition I have. Your body will let you know what you can do. Bicycling is liberating. It takes my mind off all the crap life throws at me. God's Speed & Never Give Up!

Tue Jun 17 19:58:00 2014 Greg - Bicycling is 90% mental, 10% physical. Get a good sturdy bike & a good bike fit. Start riding early in the morning, pace yourself, ride at your level not anyone else's. Take plenty of water & healthy snacks. Map out your route, know where the toilets are & that includes shade, know what the weather forecast will be for the day. Take a change of socks, if you have access to a lake or river soak your feet for a little bit, dry feet, put on fresh socks. I am in my mid 50's, 40#s over weight, ride a good sturdy bike, & tell people to eat rocks when they tell me I should stay off a bicycle because of a serious health condition I have. Your body will let you know what you can do. Bicycling is liberating. It takes my mind off all the crap life throws at me. God's Speed & Never Give Up!

Tue Jun 17 19:08:00 2014 You've done 50 whats another :) Seriously all the same advice everyone has given don't be rushed and don't think you have to go faster then you do the best thing is to enjoy yourself stay hydrated and stay well fueled.

Tue Jun 17 17:32:00 2014 Hey Greg, I'm also one of the over 50 pedaling away. My suggestions for a century are these; 1/ pacing yourself at an easy pace. 2/ no hurries and enjoy the scenery. 3/ Take extra water, electrolytes, gels and snacks. 4/ Take breaks and streatch out the gams. Like my pal Joe said you've already have done the first 50. Also, prayers are said for your recovery from your cancer. Heal quickly my friend.

Tue Jun 17 15:01:00 2014 @Greg~ Go at a pace that is comfortable for you. That's my best and only advice to you.You'll hear people say do this, and do that; when in reality DO WHAT WORKS FOR YOU!! Who cares if it takes ya 8 hours or 14..... Do your own thing.You've already done 50 and said you felt strong. IMHO you're already there!! You've obviously got your under carriage used to the miles, what's another 50?? !! ;)Getting tips from others would be pointless. Not being a jerk just saying..... YOU are the one out pedaling the miles. As far as what happens after the 50 mile mark; everyone is different. Just know that whatever your body does, give it a few extra miles to work itself out before you pull the plug on your goal of a hundy!! For me, around mile 75ish or so, i get "hot feet" each and every time. It's hard to explain, but my feet feel like they're on fire. This goes away as fast as it comes on in about 3-4 miles. Weird weird weird. LolGOOD LUCK and HAVE FUN!!!Peace, Joe

Tue Jun 17 14:44:00 2014 I was wondering if any can pass on some advice regarding riding a century. On Saturday, I finished my first 50 mile ride, and I felt really strong. If it wasn’t for the rain and the lack of water, I feel like I could have kept going. Usually, after about 40 miles, I am toast for a couple of days, but I was able to get out the next day and get another 40 mile ride in (and felt pretty good during and after the ride). So, now I want to set my goal on riding a century. The problem is 1) I am about 40 lbs overweight, and 2) over 50 and not in great shape, and 3) in January this year I was diagnosed with stage 4 Cancer. Looking around, there are many 8-12 week training plans for riding a century, but I am not sure that I have that amount of time. So I am looking at the 1st week of July instead and seeking any tips, especially regarding pacing. My warm up period tends to be to the end of the driveway and then I go full out as long as I can, then coast, then full out. On Saturday, I tried to pace myself in 15 minute increments (15 minutes at 16-20 mph, then 15 minutes at 12-15 mph) and that seemed to work out better, but if there is anyone that remembers their 1st century and could pass on some advice, I would be grateful.

Tue Jun 17 14:33:00 2014 I just run them over with my big boy tires!!! Ha Ha Ha J/K!!!Seriously though, I've never given those dirty birds a 2nd thought. I deal with a crabby old male every weekday morning. A lot of hissing and gutless charges, not much more. I did a quick stop on him last week; he flew right by me, and then he didn't know what to do. LolI told him I'd never mess with their babies, but I don't think he understood me. ;)

Tue Jun 17 14:08:00 2014 You've done 50 whats another :) Seriously all the same advice everyone has given don't be rushed and don't think you have to go faster then you do the best thing is to enjoy yourself stay hydrated and stay well fueled.

Tue Jun 17 12:32:00 2014 Hey Greg, I'm also one of the over 50 pedaling away. My suggestions for a century are these; 1/ pacing yourself at an easy pace. 2/ no hurries and enjoy the scenery. 3/ Take extra water, electrolytes, gels and snacks. 4/ Take breaks and streatch out the gams. Like my pal Joe said you've already have done the first 50. Also, prayers are said for your recovery from your cancer. Heal quickly my friend.

Tue Jun 17 10:01:00 2014 @Greg~ Go at a pace that is comfortable for you. That's my best and only advice to you.You'll hear people say do this, and do that; when in reality DO WHAT WORKS FOR YOU!! Who cares if it takes ya 8 hours or 14..... Do your own thing.You've already done 50 and said you felt strong. IMHO you're already there!! You've obviously got your under carriage used to the miles, what's another 50?? !! ;)Getting tips from others would be pointless. Not being a jerk just saying..... YOU are the one out pedaling the miles. As far as what happens after the 50 mile mark; everyone is different. Just know that whatever your body does, give it a few extra miles to work itself out before you pull the plug on your goal of a hundy!! For me, around mile 75ish or so, i get "hot feet" each and every time. It's hard to explain, but my feet feel like they're on fire. This goes away as fast as it comes on in about 3-4 miles. Weird weird weird. LolGOOD LUCK and HAVE FUN!!!Peace, Joe

Tue Jun 17 09:44:00 2014 I was wondering if any can pass on some advice regarding riding a century. On Saturday, I finished my first 50 mile ride, and I felt really strong. If it wasn’t for the rain and the lack of water, I feel like I could have kept going. Usually, after about 40 miles, I am toast for a couple of days, but I was able to get out the next day and get another 40 mile ride in (and felt pretty good during and after the ride). So, now I want to set my goal on riding a century. The problem is 1) I am about 40 lbs overweight, and 2) over 50 and not in great shape, and 3) in January this year I was diagnosed with stage 4 Cancer. Looking around, there are many 8-12 week training plans for riding a century, but I am not sure that I have that amount of time. So I am looking at the 1st week of July instead and seeking any tips, especially regarding pacing. My warm up period tends to be to the end of the driveway and then I go full out as long as I can, then coast, then full out. On Saturday, I tried to pace myself in 15 minute increments (15 minutes at 16-20 mph, then 15 minutes at 12-15 mph) and that seemed to work out better, but if there is anyone that remembers their 1st century and could pass on some advice, I would be grateful.

Tue Jun 17 09:33:00 2014 I just run them over with my big boy tires!!! Ha Ha Ha J/K!!!Seriously though, I've never given those dirty birds a 2nd thought. I deal with a crabby old male every weekday morning. A lot of hissing and gutless charges, not much more. I did a quick stop on him last week; he flew right by me, and then he didn't know what to do. LolI told him I'd never mess with their babies, but I don't think he understood me. ;)

Sun Jun 15 21:15:00 2014 At Larry Smith---I used to be intimidated by geese on my route to and from work. One time I started "barking" at them in my loudest dog imitation voice----they ran like crazy and it worked every time.

Sun Jun 15 16:15:00 2014 At Larry Smith---I used to be intimidated by geese on my route to and from work. One time I started "barking" at them in my loudest dog imitation voice----they ran like crazy and it worked every time.

Thu Jun 12 10:56:00 2014 Bear on Bike! Okay so the Black Bear wasn't riding a bike, but we did see him walking down the Mesabi Trail near Chisholm yesterday evening. One look at us coming up behind him on the trail and he was gone off through the woods. A lot of good wildlife sightings this year on the trail.

Thu Jun 12 05:56:00 2014 Bear on Bike! Okay so the Black Bear wasn't riding a bike, but we did see him walking down the Mesabi Trail near Chisholm yesterday evening. One look at us coming up behind him on the trail and he was gone off through the woods. A lot of good wildlife sightings this year on the trail.

Wed Jun 11 16:22:00 2014 Hey Crystal, not sure yet. I'll probably hang close to the metro and pound the pedals till my quads say Uncle. Where are you off too? Brother Joe, You're right about the blog. I always consult Chris's blog. It's chalked full of great bike information.

Wed Jun 11 11:22:00 2014 Hey Crystal, not sure yet. I'll probably hang close to the metro and pound the pedals till my quads say Uncle. Where are you off too? Brother Joe, You're right about the blog. I always consult Chris's blog. It's chalked full of great bike information.

Mon Jun 9 05:41:00 2014 Today was the annual Lake Wobegon Caremal Roll Ride - What a great day! We saw many riders from all parts of Minnesota, and a few from North Dakota, Wisconsin, & Illinois. Thank you all for coming out to make this a successful ride.

Mon Jun 9 00:41:00 2014 Today was the annual Lake Wobegon Caremal Roll Ride - What a great day! We saw many riders from all parts of Minnesota, and a few from North Dakota, Wisconsin, & Illinois. Thank you all for coming out to make this a successful ride.

Sat Jun 7 21:57:00 2014 Marty...hubby is keeping a safe distance...he knows how owlie I get if I can't cycle. I have been resting, drinking lemon/honey hot toddies, & eating a lot of chicken noodle soup. I did bike today, but I feel like a wet dishrag.

Sat Jun 7 16:57:00 2014 Marty...hubby is keeping a safe distance...he knows how owlie I get if I can't cycle. I have been resting, drinking lemon/honey hot toddies, & eating a lot of chicken noodle soup. I did bike today, but I feel like a wet dishrag.

Sat Jun 7 14:00:00 2014 Out of all the miles I bike; the miles with our young ones are both rewarding and frustrating!! I'll take both, because I'm a dad, and they're taught life lessons on each and every ride!!! What can be better than that!!!As they've gotten older, they're able to do more and more miles, with less and less supervision. Rewarding to say the least!! Pedal On!!Peace

Sat Jun 7 09:00:00 2014 Out of all the miles I bike; the miles with our young ones are both rewarding and frustrating!! I'll take both, because I'm a dad, and they're taught life lessons on each and every ride!!! What can be better than that!!!As they've gotten older, they're able to do more and more miles, with less and less supervision. Rewarding to say the least!! Pedal On!!Peace

Thu May 22 13:11:00 2014 @Marty~ The 9:zero:7 because of the lower stand over height of the frame design, and it came in an XS sized frame. We had wanted to keep our hard earned $$$$ here in town, but our LBS didn't (at the time) want to do a 9:zero:7 build. I have a friend in Eagan who's wife has XS frame, anyway long story short, we had Penn Cycle Eagan build Z's 9:zero:7. We're starting the ball rolling on a 9:zero:7 build for our soon to be 7 year old little girl. She's pumped to join the "Fat Club!!"Ok, why the Pugs........ At the time, 2009 there were no complete builds out there. Minus FatBack, cause I never really thought about them and I was hung up on the Pugs. My LBS can get Surly products at the drop of a hat. So it was a no brainer to go with Surly. I love the ride of steel, also a no brainer to go with the Pugs.... So I slowly gathered the build piece by piece. I couldn't be happier with my choice!! Sold my road bikes, and my FS MTB is my spare bike, which hangs in the garage.The Moonlander IMHO is over kill for our area. Cool as hell pedal bike, but more bike than I need. Nice thing about the Pugsley and the 9:zero:7, everything except the seat post is swappable. So when my Pugs frame goes bye bye, I'll be replacing it with a 9:zero;7 frame. My dream bike would be a TI FatBack..... In time!! Lol

Thu May 22 08:11:00 2014 @Marty~ The 9:zero:7 because of the lower stand over height of the frame design, and it came in an XS sized frame. We had wanted to keep our hard earned $$$$ here in town, but our LBS didn't (at the time) want to do a 9:zero:7 build. I have a friend in Eagan who's wife has XS frame, anyway long story short, we had Penn Cycle Eagan build Z's 9:zero:7. We're starting the ball rolling on a 9:zero:7 build for our soon to be 7 year old little girl. She's pumped to join the "Fat Club!!"Ok, why the Pugs........ At the time, 2009 there were no complete builds out there. Minus FatBack, cause I never really thought about them and I was hung up on the Pugs. My LBS can get Surly products at the drop of a hat. So it was a no brainer to go with Surly. I love the ride of steel, also a no brainer to go with the Pugs.... So I slowly gathered the build piece by piece. I couldn't be happier with my choice!! Sold my road bikes, and my FS MTB is my spare bike, which hangs in the garage.The Moonlander IMHO is over kill for our area. Cool as hell pedal bike, but more bike than I need. Nice thing about the Pugsley and the 9:zero:7, everything except the seat post is swappable. So when my Pugs frame goes bye bye, I'll be replacing it with a 9:zero;7 frame. My dream bike would be a TI FatBack..... In time!! Lol

Thu May 22 05:29:00 2014 Your 9 year old rides a 9:zero:7? What a stud. Not sure yet. I've ridden the Pug, Muk and Moon. I think the 9 zero and the fatback is too fancy pants for me. I like the idea of supporting our local QBP product. Not sure if the Moonlander is a bit big for me (age is shrinking me). I need to test all three again. Why did you choose the Pugsly?

Thu May 22 00:29:00 2014 Your 9 year old rides a 9:zero:7? What a stud. Not sure yet. I've ridden the Pug, Muk and Moon. I think the 9 zero and the fatback is too fancy pants for me. I like the idea of supporting our local QBP product. Not sure if the Moonlander is a bit big for me (age is shrinking me). I need to test all three again. Why did you choose the Pugsly?

Tue May 13 13:29:00 2014 Rode to Webster, WI for a 60th surprise Birthday party on Saturday....tale of two days of spring 2013. Riding up into NW headwinds of 20-25 with gusts up to 50 mph. Almost got blown off the road! Managed some shelter on River Road north of St. Croix Falls - beautiful road by the way. Return trip was glorious with bright sunny skies and mostly tail winds. Got home over an hour quicker! 220 miles total.

Tue May 13 08:29:00 2014 Rode to Webster, WI for a 60th surprise Birthday party on Saturday....tale of two days of spring 2013. Riding up into NW headwinds of 20-25 with gusts up to 50 mph. Almost got blown off the road! Managed some shelter on River Road north of St. Croix Falls - beautiful road by the way. Return trip was glorious with bright sunny skies and mostly tail winds. Got home over an hour quicker! 220 miles total.

Sun May 11 05:26:00 2014 Rode the 100 mile Minneapolis American Diabetes Tour de Cure route today. Excellent route. The ride is on Saturday June 1. Signup today, have fun, and Stop Diabetes. Everyone on this leaderboard is already trained, I will see you there. http://main.diabetes.org/goto/Greg.Fenzl

Sun May 11 00:26:00 2014 Rode the 100 mile Minneapolis American Diabetes Tour de Cure route today. Excellent route. The ride is on Saturday June 1. Signup today, have fun, and Stop Diabetes. Everyone on this leaderboard is already trained, I will see you there. http://main.diabetes.org/goto/Greg.Fenzl

Sat May 10 15:52:00 2014 @Brandon D, the Mesabi Trail rocks. I've biked it, but never rode the Great River Energy Ride. Looks like this summer my Dad, Son and myself will be riding it. Looking forward to it.

Sat May 10 10:52:00 2014 @Brandon D, the Mesabi Trail rocks. I've biked it, but never rode the Great River Energy Ride. Looks like this summer my Dad, Son and myself will be riding it. Looking forward to it.

Tue May 6 21:35:00 2014 Just signed up and joined the 3M team. Logged in my 4 rides for a total of 77 miles and will add more tonight. Getting ready for the MS 150 in June. I'd also be interested in the Mesabi Trail ride as it goes through my home town of Coleraine.

Tue May 6 16:35:00 2014 Just signed up and joined the 3M team. Logged in my 4 rides for a total of 77 miles and will add more tonight. Getting ready for the MS 150 in June. I'd also be interested in the Mesabi Trail ride as it goes through my home town of Coleraine.

Tue May 6 16:08:00 2014 We usually ride the Great River Energy Mesabi trail ride every year. It's a great ride on an old railroad bed in the woods up on the iron range. Very scenic and fun, check it out.

Tue May 6 11:08:00 2014 We usually ride the Great River Energy Mesabi trail ride every year. It's a great ride on an old railroad bed in the woods up on the iron range. Very scenic and fun, check it out.

Tue May 6 01:13:00 2014 Biked the Paul Bunyan Trail this weekend from Nisswa to Backus, and there was no snow on the trail that was of concern. In very few places the there was a little bit of snow on the trail....otherwise all clear. And only saw 3 other bikers...maybe it was the rain and 35 degrees??

Mon May 5 20:13:00 2014 Biked the Paul Bunyan Trail this weekend from Nisswa to Backus, and there was no snow on the trail that was of concern. In very few places the there was a little bit of snow on the trail....otherwise all clear. And only saw 3 other bikers...maybe it was the rain and 35 degrees??

Mon May 5 18:08:00 2014 I rode the Heartland Trail from Park Rapids to Dorset today. There are still places on the trail where I had to get off my bike and push it through the slush and snow. It looks like a week of warmer weather should melt these reamining spots away.

Mon May 5 13:08:00 2014 I rode the Heartland Trail from Park Rapids to Dorset today. There are still places on the trail where I had to get off my bike and push it through the slush and snow. It looks like a week of warmer weather should melt these reamining spots away.

Sat May 3 17:02:00 2014 Marty~ awesome about your father still turning the pedals!! A perfect example of riding keeps one young!! :)Lots of good hills throughout the trail. One real good one west of hwy. 7 near Tacionite; and another east of Chisholm. Stop thinking and sign up!! LolA few of our team will be starting in Rapids, picking others up along the way. One of my children joins me in Hibbing, the other in Buhl. Good family fun!! Let me know if you guys decide to ride, we'll hook up for a few miles.Pedal On!!Peace

Sat May 3 16:39:00 2014 Hey Joe, I'm thinking about biking the Great River Ride with my Dad (he's 71 and rides everyday. Rockstar.). There's a big hill along the Mesabi (around the Virginia area) that got a little attention from me and my single speed Masi.

Sat May 3 12:02:00 2014 Marty~ awesome about your father still turning the pedals!! A perfect example of riding keeps one young!! :)Lots of good hills throughout the trail. One real good one west of hwy. 7 near Tacionite; and another east of Chisholm. Stop thinking and sign up!! LolA few of our team will be starting in Rapids, picking others up along the way. One of my children joins me in Hibbing, the other in Buhl. Good family fun!! Let me know if you guys decide to ride, we'll hook up for a few miles.Pedal On!!Peace

Sat May 3 11:39:00 2014 Hey Joe, I'm thinking about biking the Great River Ride with my Dad (he's 71 and rides everyday. Rockstar.). There's a big hill along the Mesabi (around the Virginia area) that got a little attention from me and my single speed Masi.

Thu May 1 06:10:00 2014 Thanks Theresa, I'm looking forward to riding with you. I finished the month of April with 544 miles. I will say that the twin cities plows the trails, so it's a tad easier to ride down here compared to what you Northerners get to ride on.

Thu May 1 04:41:00 2014 Marty...let us know when you plan to ride our trails in Central Minnesota. We are proud of our trails & would love to join you. Last year the two CMBC teams riding the National Bike Challenge met in Bowlus for a "Back Road Ramble". We rode 50 miles & met after for a cookout. A few cyclists rode a shorter distance. What an enjoyable day & great company! Thanks for joining our team my friend...we are going to have fun this summer!

Thu May 1 03:21:00 2014 Well, this starts tomorrow, and I won't be commuting by bike because I've got to go too far in too short a time, in the very wet rain (it's like that), sorry to drag you all down, but maybe later in the day I'll manage a ride.

Thu May 1 01:10:00 2014 Thanks Theresa, I'm looking forward to riding with you. I finished the month of April with 544 miles. I will say that the twin cities plows the trails, so it's a tad easier to ride down here compared to what you Northerners get to ride on.

Wed Apr 30 23:41:00 2014 Marty...let us know when you plan to ride our trails in Central Minnesota. We are proud of our trails & would love to join you. Last year the two CMBC teams riding the National Bike Challenge met in Bowlus for a "Back Road Ramble". We rode 50 miles & met after for a cookout. A few cyclists rode a shorter distance. What an enjoyable day & great company! Thanks for joining our team my friend...we are going to have fun this summer!

Wed Apr 30 22:21:00 2014 Well, this starts tomorrow, and I won't be commuting by bike because I've got to go too far in too short a time, in the very wet rain (it's like that), sorry to drag you all down, but maybe later in the day I'll manage a ride.

Tue Apr 29 23:26:00 2014 I managed to get a few short rides in the last few weeks but the Heartland Trail is still covered with snow. I am hoping it will be open within a week or so. I'll do some highway miles until then.

Tue Apr 29 18:26:00 2014 I managed to get a few short rides in the last few weeks but the Heartland Trail is still covered with snow. I am hoping it will be open within a week or so. I'll do some highway miles until then.

Wed Apr 23 04:50:00 2014 I love this challenge. i am recently retired and started biking last summer. I don't think I will win any awards for speed or distance yet but will do my best. My goal is to ride The Continemtal Divide bike route for a charity. Don't want to wait too many yrs. to do it. I am 66 yrs. old.

Tue Apr 22 23:50:00 2014 I love this challenge. i am recently retired and started biking last summer. I don't think I will win any awards for speed or distance yet but will do my best. My goal is to ride The Continemtal Divide bike route for a charity. Don't want to wait too many yrs. to do it. I am 66 yrs. old.

Fri Apr 18 22:04:00 2014 Well here it is April 18, 2013, 30 degrees been snowing for over 12 hours, 4+' of snow so far with 3-6 inches more in the forecast plus winds.... I can't get the door on the pole building open to get to the bike even if I wanted to attempt outdoor riding.. AARRGGHHH!! did see 7 snowmobiles yesterday, riding is still good!!

Fri Apr 18 17:04:00 2014 Well here it is April 18, 2013, 30 degrees been snowing for over 12 hours, 4+' of snow so far with 3-6 inches more in the forecast plus winds.... I can't get the door on the pole building open to get to the bike even if I wanted to attempt outdoor riding.. AARRGGHHH!! did see 7 snowmobiles yesterday, riding is still good!!

Sun Dec 29 15:34:00 2013 Joe it's going to take some time. TG has the road bike mentality yet. Keeps referring to the feel of her rode bike in comparison to the Fat Bike. We made some drastic changes to her seat height, up 2" in one shot. But I think it helped. She had 10# in both tires and we were rode riding so I left them up. She was able to see how the squat of my tires @ 4# front and 6# rear made for a more stable ride on the road how she really sunk in the snow on the trails and I floated. I hope I got across to her to that gearing down is really important for hill climbing and tougher condtions. I know her legs had to be burning. We have a long winter ahead and her hubby Curt should have his Pugsley as we speak. If they keep riding I figure they'll be set up close to perfect two weeks from now. You just have to be willing to experiment while your out riding cold or not.

Sun Dec 29 10:34:00 2013 Joe it's going to take some time. TG has the road bike mentality yet. Keeps referring to the feel of her rode bike in comparison to the Fat Bike. We made some drastic changes to her seat height, up 2" in one shot. But I think it helped. She had 10# in both tires and we were rode riding so I left them up. She was able to see how the squat of my tires @ 4# front and 6# rear made for a more stable ride on the road how she really sunk in the snow on the trails and I floated. I hope I got across to her to that gearing down is really important for hill climbing and tougher condtions. I know her legs had to be burning. We have a long winter ahead and her hubby Curt should have his Pugsley as we speak. If they keep riding I figure they'll be set up close to perfect two weeks from now. You just have to be willing to experiment while your out riding cold or not.

Thu Dec 26 14:51:00 2013 T~ It will take some getting used to; it's unlike any other bike you've thrown a leg over!! Give yourself some time to become a custom to the ride/feel of your new ride!! For your height, Marty's right.... It should fit you fine. The next step down is an XS frame, and Surly only goes down to a 14" frame. In comparison our son rides an XS (13" frame) 9:zero:7 and it fits him perfectly. For snow riding smaller (for some people) is better. Since when you step off "most of the time" you're not stepping off on solid ground. You'll get some "sink" into the snow. Play around with air pressure to find your maximum float range. Marty and Frank have heard me say this before....... Different snow conditions will call for different psi, a quality mini HV air pump and a LOW pressure air gauge are invaluable in helping you find the "sweet spot." I say HIGH VOLUME because you don't a need high pressure pump like for your road bike. Make sense?? If you have any questions don't be afraid to ask....... Frank and Marty also know what I'm talking about, so they'd be another couple people to throw questions to. Above all, enjoy the ride of the FatBike!!! It's not about speed..... It's about going where you've never thought possible before on two wheels!!!! If your legs can push you, you'll surprise yourself each and every ride!! Ha Ha Peace, Joe

Thu Dec 26 09:51:00 2013 T~ It will take some getting used to; it's unlike any other bike you've thrown a leg over!! Give yourself some time to become a custom to the ride/feel of your new ride!! For your height, Marty's right.... It should fit you fine. The next step down is an XS frame, and Surly only goes down to a 14" frame. In comparison our son rides an XS (13" frame) 9:zero:7 and it fits him perfectly. For snow riding smaller (for some people) is better. Since when you step off "most of the time" you're not stepping off on solid ground. You'll get some "sink" into the snow. Play around with air pressure to find your maximum float range. Marty and Frank have heard me say this before....... Different snow conditions will call for different psi, a quality mini HV air pump and a LOW pressure air gauge are invaluable in helping you find the "sweet spot." I say HIGH VOLUME because you don't a need high pressure pump like for your road bike. Make sense?? If you have any questions don't be afraid to ask....... Frank and Marty also know what I'm talking about, so they'd be another couple people to throw questions to. Above all, enjoy the ride of the FatBike!!! It's not about speed..... It's about going where you've never thought possible before on two wheels!!!! If your legs can push you, you'll surprise yourself each and every ride!! Ha Ha Peace, Joe

Sun Dec 22 05:11:00 2013 Joe I took my Pugsley out for my first ride today. Not sure I got the right size fat tire bike. It's a 14"..I am only 5'5 7/8" The bike was fun but rides so much diffently than my mtb or touring bike.

Sun Dec 22 00:11:00 2013 Joe I took my Pugsley out for my first ride today. Not sure I got the right size fat tire bike. It's a 14"..I am only 5'5 7/8" The bike was fun but rides so much diffently than my mtb or touring bike.

Sun Dec 8 05:24:00 2013 I've found the same thing Frank!!! "Those things cost that much!!??!!" Is what I hear a lot.I always say.... Do you hunt, fish (own a boat), own a wheeler? Some people get what I'm say, others not so much. Lol

Sun Dec 8 00:24:00 2013 I've found the same thing Frank!!! "Those things cost that much!!??!!" Is what I hear a lot.I always say.... Do you hunt, fish (own a boat), own a wheeler? Some people get what I'm say, others not so much. Lol

Wed Dec 4 23:51:00 2013 Good read Joe.I was trying to be a Fat Bike Ambassador this afternoon but it is really hard to explain the feeling you get riding bikes. Benefits are of course obvious. Most are turned away by the price.

Wed Dec 4 18:51:00 2013 Good read Joe.I was trying to be a Fat Bike Ambassador this afternoon but it is really hard to explain the feeling you get riding bikes. Benefits are of course obvious. Most are turned away by the price.

Thu Nov 7 15:05:00 2013 Anybody on the fence about a FatBike??Mrs. Gregory???Check this out!!!http://winterbikeexpo.comDemo your heart away!! No better way to find out what's what, and what truly works for "you!!!"Peace, Joe

Thu Nov 7 10:05:00 2013 Anybody on the fence about a FatBike??Mrs. Gregory???Check this out!!!http://winterbikeexpo.comDemo your heart away!! No better way to find out what's what, and what truly works for "you!!!"Peace, Joe

Mon Oct 14 04:47:00 2013 Rode horse today for a change of pace. Felt a little weird not riding a bike. Doc said I need to mix it up more. I am going through withdrawals.....I want to finish with 6000 miles for the year. So close..yet feels so far!

Sun Oct 13 23:47:00 2013 Rode horse today for a change of pace. Felt a little weird not riding a bike. Doc said I need to mix it up more. I am going through withdrawals.....I want to finish with 6000 miles for the year. So close..yet feels so far!

Fri Sep 13 12:58:00 2013 I really wish they'd make the final couple of connections.Besides giving the Mesabi Trail Tour more route options...... i could see pedaling ones way to Ely's Blueberry Festival; let alone the other fun the area has to offer!!Craig......... maybe it's a Itasca county vs. St. Louis county thing?? Lol

Fri Sep 13 07:58:00 2013 I really wish they'd make the final couple of connections.Besides giving the Mesabi Trail Tour more route options...... i could see pedaling ones way to Ely's Blueberry Festival; let alone the other fun the area has to offer!!Craig......... maybe it's a Itasca county vs. St. Louis county thing?? Lol

Wed Sep 11 15:07:00 2013 While Biking the Mesabi Trail yesterday I had a conversation with some MnDot workers. Found out about 6 miles of the trail will be getting a new pave job in the next week. This will be from the start of the trail at the Itasca County Fairgrounds up to Gunn Park. Which covers a little over 3 miles of the main trail and then the nearly 3 mile spur up to Gunn Park. Just an FYI for you potential MT riders.

Wed Sep 11 10:07:00 2013 While Biking the Mesabi Trail yesterday I had a conversation with some MnDot workers. Found out about 6 miles of the trail will be getting a new pave job in the next week. This will be from the start of the trail at the Itasca County Fairgrounds up to Gunn Park. Which covers a little over 3 miles of the main trail and then the nearly 3 mile spur up to Gunn Park. Just an FYI for you potential MT riders.

Sun Sep 8 01:42:00 2013 After reading the posting from the League of American Cyclists about somebody riding for 24 hours (300 miles) I started questioning my miles. I am wondering what constitutes "sport" riding. Is my 150 mile gravel grind to Windom on a fully loaded Fargo the same as someone riding a madone in the defeat of the Younger Brothers ride. Was my 14 mile round trip on a fixie to town this evening for an ice cream cone sport of transport?

Sat Sep 7 20:42:00 2013 After reading the posting from the League of American Cyclists about somebody riding for 24 hours (300 miles) I started questioning my miles. I am wondering what constitutes "sport" riding. Is my 150 mile gravel grind to Windom on a fully loaded Fargo the same as someone riding a madone in the defeat of the Younger Brothers ride. Was my 14 mile round trip on a fixie to town this evening for an ice cream cone sport of transport?

Tue Sep 3 20:16:00 2013 The Classic would be good for children. Streets are blocked and intersections are police attended and directed. Lots and lots of bikes. Rider speed is not an issue. Jesse James might be a bit scary for kids. There are some trucks that pass at high speed and the streets are not blocked off. Wild, Wild, West. Great ride though, especially the century.

Tue Sep 3 15:16:00 2013 The Classic would be good for children. Streets are blocked and intersections are police attended and directed. Lots and lots of bikes. Rider speed is not an issue. Jesse James might be a bit scary for kids. There are some trucks that pass at high speed and the streets are not blocked off. Wild, Wild, West. Great ride though, especially the century.

Tue Sep 3 13:01:00 2013 Anybody here ever ride in the St. Paul Classic or the Jesse James? If so, would the Classic be a good ride for (two experienced) children riders?Thanks in advance! Pedal On!!Peace

Tue Sep 3 08:01:00 2013 Anybody here ever ride in the St. Paul Classic or the Jesse James? If so, would the Classic be a good ride for (two experienced) children riders?Thanks in advance! Pedal On!!Peace

Fri Aug 16 01:01:00 2013 Thank you Greg And Peter for responding back I'm going down tomorrow start in Carlton Wife driving me down there, Barnim fair going on. I think she will hang out there Maybe see Joe on trail

Fri Aug 16 00:36:00 2013 @Larry~I won't be "on trail" till after 3pm..... kids have final day of VBS. after that then we leave town. I took a vacation day, so I wanted to leave by 11am, but Nooooooo!! LolPedal On!!Peace

Thu Aug 15 20:01:00 2013 Thank you Greg And Peter for responding back I'm going down tomorrow start in Carlton Wife driving me down there, Barnim fair going on. I think she will hang out there Maybe see Joe on trail

Thu Aug 15 13:20:00 2013 #Larry - We rode from Hinckley to Duluth last weekend. The 12 miles from Carlton to Duluth was a mixture of newly paved, crushed rock, and old pavement, but you can get to Duluth (the trail was closed right after the bridge into Duluth.

Thu Aug 15 08:20:00 2013 #Larry - We rode from Hinckley to Duluth last weekend. The 12 miles from Carlton to Duluth was a mixture of newly paved, crushed rock, and old pavement, but you can get to Duluth (the trail was closed right after the bridge into Duluth.

Thu Aug 15 00:43:00 2013 @Larry~I'll be pedaling from Carlton, maybe Barnum to Hinckley on Friday. Cindi's family reunion over this weekend. I'll get MY own long ride in before I'm the ride leader for a bunch of ankle-biters!! Lol I shouldn't laugh...... they pedal hard!! :)Peace

Wed Aug 14 19:43:00 2013 @Larry~I'll be pedaling from Carlton, maybe Barnum to Hinckley on Friday. Cindi's family reunion over this weekend. I'll get MY own long ride in before I'm the ride leader for a bunch of ankle-biters!! Lol I shouldn't laugh...... they pedal hard!! :)Peace

Mon Aug 12 14:43:00 2013 OK so I did this 300K race in Dodgeville, WI over the weekend - the "Dairyland Dare". The distance was actually 188.5 miles and my moving time was 9:45:00 which I calculated out to 52,650 pedal strokes. No wonder the velcro strap to which the timing chip was attached wore the back of my achilles tendon raw. Now that's a lot of pedaling!

Mon Aug 12 09:43:00 2013 OK so I did this 300K race in Dodgeville, WI over the weekend - the "Dairyland Dare". The distance was actually 188.5 miles and my moving time was 9:45:00 which I calculated out to 52,650 pedal strokes. No wonder the velcro strap to which the timing chip was attached wore the back of my achilles tendon raw. Now that's a lot of pedaling!

Thu Aug 8 23:40:00 2013 Marty--yes, you would think it was a major chore. I simply stepped down from a step-ladder---did not jump, slip, fall, twist--just stepped down---annoying. I have to say my knee has done very well once I saw someone and got the problem fixed. My ortho doc also rides a bike, so he was fine with me riding up until the day before surg and being back on as soon as I was--albeit some pretty level easy riding the first couple of weeks. I think cycling helped a lot for recovery--both physically and mentally! Peter---hope your hamstring is singing a happier tune for you!

Thu Aug 8 18:40:00 2013 Marty--yes, you would think it was a major chore. I simply stepped down from a step-ladder---did not jump, slip, fall, twist--just stepped down---annoying. I have to say my knee has done very well once I saw someone and got the problem fixed. My ortho doc also rides a bike, so he was fine with me riding up until the day before surg and being back on as soon as I was--albeit some pretty level easy riding the first couple of weeks. I think cycling helped a lot for recovery--both physically and mentally! Peter---hope your hamstring is singing a happier tune for you!

Sat Aug 3 01:28:00 2013 Peter---sorry about your hamstring---treat it well--we bikers recover fast. I started out June with a torn meniscus in my knee and needing an arthroscopy----it only kept me completely off of my bike for 10 days. Resulted from housework---just shows I should ride and forget housework :) Tim, Glacier Park is spectacular---hope you are riding Going to the Sun Highway(aka Logan's pass)---it is one fabulous view after another--Enjoy!

Fri Aug 2 20:28:00 2013 Peter---sorry about your hamstring---treat it well--we bikers recover fast. I started out June with a torn meniscus in my knee and needing an arthroscopy----it only kept me completely off of my bike for 10 days. Resulted from housework---just shows I should ride and forget housework :) Tim, Glacier Park is spectacular---hope you are riding Going to the Sun Highway(aka Logan's pass)---it is one fabulous view after another--Enjoy!

Tue Jul 30 14:26:00 2013 Given the late start, I'm very happy with the miles I've gotten in this season so far. Most of my big miles have been focused on training for the Wisconsin Triple Crown and the last of the three events is August 10th, so I will probably lay off a little:-)

I still have a bike tour of Glacier Natonal Park and a camping trip on the North Shore to go. Plenty of commuting too but I will re-start marathon training and the bike will have to take a bit of a back seat starting in September. Congrats to all you over-achievers by the way - and you know who you are! What a dedicated group!

Tue Jul 30 09:26:00 2013 Given the late start, I'm very happy with the miles I've gotten in this season so far. Most of my big miles have been focused on training for the Wisconsin Triple Crown and the last of the three events is August 10th, so I will probably lay off a little:-)

I still have a bike tour of Glacier Natonal Park and a camping trip on the North Shore to go. Plenty of commuting too but I will re-start marathon training and the bike will have to take a bit of a back seat starting in September. Congrats to all you over-achievers by the way - and you know who you are! What a dedicated group!

Wed Jul 24 22:40:00 2013 Greg if we can help let us know. Even with a late start this year I to am happy with my mileage to date, 9 miles short of 2000. 37 miles short of 1000 for the month. Congrats on the weight loss : )

Wed Jul 24 17:40:00 2013 Greg if we can help let us know. Even with a late start this year I to am happy with my mileage to date, 9 miles short of 2000. 37 miles short of 1000 for the month. Congrats on the weight loss : )

Wed Jul 24 14:41:00 2013 @Marty - last year I had 228 miles total. This year I have 1628 miles to date. When I started in April, my original goal in May was 200 miles, June was 250, July was 300, etc. They have be slightly modified to May goal 450 (actual 451), June goal 500 (actual 568), July goal 600 (increased again from 500), etc. Never thought I could do it, but I hope to have 3,000 miles by the end of challenge.So for me, it was a lot more miles than I thought I could ever do!

Wed Jul 24 09:41:00 2013 @Marty - last year I had 228 miles total. This year I have 1628 miles to date. When I started in April, my original goal in May was 200 miles, June was 250, July was 300, etc. They have be slightly modified to May goal 450 (actual 451), June goal 500 (actual 568), July goal 600 (increased again from 500), etc. Never thought I could do it, but I hope to have 3,000 miles by the end of challenge.So for me, it was a lot more miles than I thought I could ever do!

Sun Jul 21 15:34:00 2013 Not much. I prefer to avoid 35, particularly in Harley season. I was in it for the hills so I started in Prescott moving through a hill loop that I usually do, then drop through Hager City, over to Red Wing, then south on 58 to CR 5 to Lake City and up CR 4 over to Wabasha then across to Nelson, through Pepin and the up CR CC and a hill loop through Pepin County up to Pierce County occasionally dropping back to 35 before returning to do my Prescott loop in reverse. It's a nice loop, particularly the Wisconsin county roads and paved town roads.

Sun Jul 21 10:34:00 2013 Not much. I prefer to avoid 35, particularly in Harley season. I was in it for the hills so I started in Prescott moving through a hill loop that I usually do, then drop through Hager City, over to Red Wing, then south on 58 to CR 5 to Lake City and up CR 4 over to Wabasha then across to Nelson, through Pepin and the up CR CC and a hill loop through Pepin County up to Pierce County occasionally dropping back to 35 before returning to do my Prescott loop in reverse. It's a nice loop, particularly the Wisconsin county roads and paved town roads.

Sat Jul 20 10:34:00 2013 Not much. I prefer to avoid 35, particularly in Harley season. I was in it for the hills so I started in Prescott moving through a hill loop that I usually do, then drop through Hager City, over to Red Wing, then south on 58 to CR 5 to Lake City and up CR 4 over to Wabasha then across to Nelson, through Pepin and the up CR CC and a hill loop through Pepin County up to Pierce County occasionally dropping back to 35 before returning to do my Prescott loop in reverse. It's a nice loop, particularly the Wisconsin county roads and paved town roads.

Wed Jul 17 14:11:00 2013 I love being able to commute the 10 miles to/and back from work in the Minnesota heat! My work has a shower and fitness center and allows me to bring my bike inside! What a great place to work!

Wed Jul 17 09:11:00 2013 I love being able to commute the 10 miles to/and back from work in the Minnesota heat! My work has a shower and fitness center and allows me to bring my bike inside! What a great place to work!

Sat Jul 13 23:33:00 2013 Today was a day to not concentrate on mileage but to complete a promise. The promise was to my grand daughter that when she rode her bike without training wheels I would pack my bike in the car and we would ride together. We went around the block twice-once with her 4 year old sister on her bike with the training wheels and once just the 2 of us! it was a wonderful day!

Sat Jul 13 18:33:00 2013 Today was a day to not concentrate on mileage but to complete a promise. The promise was to my grand daughter that when she rode her bike without training wheels I would pack my bike in the car and we would ride together. We went around the block twice-once with her 4 year old sister on her bike with the training wheels and once just the 2 of us! it was a wonderful day!

Tue Jul 9 22:14:00 2013 Great, just turn right at the Holiday Station or left if coming from 94, down two blocks is the Trailhead. Go past the church one block turn right and come back to the parking lot. 715 it is, it will be fun : )

Tue Jul 9 17:14:00 2013 Great, just turn right at the Holiday Station or left if coming from 94, down two blocks is the Trailhead. Go past the church one block turn right and come back to the parking lot. 715 it is, it will be fun : )

Fri Jul 5 17:22:00 2013 Greg still on for the 13th whenever you arrive at St Joe Trailhead. Some may go out earlier and that's fine we all know where we are going. Can't leave without you. This weekend we have Tour of Saints @ St Ben's out of St Joe. Could be a wet ride.

Fri Jul 5 12:22:00 2013 Greg still on for the 13th whenever you arrive at St Joe Trailhead. Some may go out earlier and that's fine we all know where we are going. Can't leave without you. This weekend we have Tour of Saints @ St Ben's out of St Joe. Could be a wet ride.

Wed Jul 3 01:48:00 2013 No later than 8 I would think. Sooner the better 82 and Sunny for Saturday. Greg's ride we'll let him decide. Two century rides in one week whew!!!You can do it Marty come join us...I have two other recumbent riders thinking about going with us.

Tue Jul 2 20:48:00 2013 No later than 8 I would think. Sooner the better 82 and Sunny for Saturday. Greg's ride we'll let him decide. Two century rides in one week whew!!!You can do it Marty come join us...I have two other recumbent riders thinking about going with us.

Tue Jul 2 05:20:00 2013 Greg & Frank...what time on the 13th should we met in St. Joseph? Early? Anyone one else out there want to join us for a little ride to Osakis? Curt (husband) is thinking of joining us. All are welcome & need be we will have SAG help along the way. Keep spinning those spokes!

Tue Jul 2 00:20:00 2013 Greg & Frank...what time on the 13th should we met in St. Joseph? Early? Anyone one else out there want to join us for a little ride to Osakis? Curt (husband) is thinking of joining us. All are welcome & need be we will have SAG help along the way. Keep spinning those spokes!

Thu Jun 27 08:19:00 2013 Oh know, the snubber's are out, (you know who you are), hide your heart!! ;)Their loss not mine!! They do always get a really loud "enjoy your day" yelled in their direction!! ;)The people who always go out of their way to say a big HIYA?? Kids by far always say hi almost all the time, even to their parents objections!!! LolThe other 90% of the time I'm pedaling through the woods; so in other words I don't care to see anyone!! Ha Ha Ha Pedal On!!Peace

Wed Jun 26 18:00:00 2013 I had a nice exchange on the corridor today. I might have to ride it more if I make a friend every time I go down it! It was not me Greg but thanks for sharing and maybe I will see you on there sometime!

Wed Jun 26 09:43:00 2013 If the rider that drafted me yesterday at Coon Rapid dam is reading this, I just want to thank you for making one of the worst rides of the year into one of the best. I guess I am a bit of a poser in that I ride a pretty nice bike, and put on a lot of miles, but since I am overweight and don’t wear spandex (though I do, it’s just covered in mountain biking shorts), the “real” cyclist can’t take the time to return a wave or a nod or reply to me telling them to have a great ride when stopped at a crossroad. The rider that drafted me was the first to actually have a conversation with me and treated me like a peer. Although we only rode together for 3 or 4 miles, it really meant a lot to me and I hope you are reading this.

Sun Jun 23 08:38:00 2013 George,You made of sugar??? ;)You skinny tired bikers are really very fickle!!Does it have something to do with the size of your tires??? I know me and my "clown like" balloon tires don't mind the rain, then again, all that know me; know I'm far from made of sugar!!! LOLHa Ha Ha Pedal On… whatever tires you like!!!

Fri Jun 21 10:26:00 2013 I was hit by a car on my bike Saturday. Thank god I walked away, had some damage to the bike so hopefully going to pick it up this weekend or early next week. I'm going through withdrawls.

Thu Jun 20 00:04:00 2013 July 20th a 70ish couple from CMBC will be celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary. All of usfrom the club are invited to attend. We are suppose to wear our club jerseys & shirts...so long story short the 20th is out for me. By the way the "groom may have some dust on the bottle" but he is a peddling machine...he can fly like the wind & go & go & go & go!!!!

Wed Jun 19 23:29:00 2013 OK my friend we are on, God willing we will make this happen or whatever we can pedal that day. Once we are past Melrose we will probably have the trail to ourselves. Are trails don't get packed like they do down south. Sounds like more may join us for this ride. Will stay in touch, just keep turning your spokes : )

Wed Jun 19 16:11:00 2013 Greg you can keep up...Frank is on the Big River Riders team & a part of the Central Minnesota Bicycle Club ( Free - just sign a waiver). I will join you also if you would like. We have some great routes up in Central MN. Last year hubby was SAG for another bicyclist & I who wanted to ride from St.Joseph to Alexandria & back the last weekend in july on The Lake Woebegone Trail. I enjoyed the ride & it made me realize anything is possible...Just Do It...let nothing stop you. Good luck on the surgery...and keep looking up^

Wed Jun 19 14:07:00 2013 Frank - lets pencil in July 13th. It appears that you are NW of the Twin Cities so what do you think about St. Joseph to Osakis and back? Not sure how busy Lake Wobegone trail is on a Saturday though.

Wed Jun 19 11:10:00 2013 Ah Man the outsides only skin deep, it's what's on the inside that counts. Little scarred up myself. Only dates I couldn't do is the 7th & 10th. Hopefully there won't be any surgery this round. I have to go to Iowa next week for a week, so I will check board again first week of July and we will get this done.

Hey Marty, if I get laid up again in the near future I will read it. Other than that it will have to wait until freeze up : ) You don't have to caught me I ride at a comfortable cadence when riding alone and at the same pace as those I'm riding with.

Wed Jun 19 10:28:00 2013 Frank - let’s set up something. It is hard to make long term plans, but how about either July 13th or July 20th. I am not sure about distance, but I should be good for at least 50 miles and hopefully ready for another 100. Word of caution, I have a pretty nasty 2 foot scar on my leg where they removed a bone and my jaw is still swollen to grapefruit size from the 1st surgery back in February, so I ani't pretty :)

Wed Jun 19 10:27:00 2013 Greg- good luck with your surgery. Frank- 68 years young? That's fantastic. No wonder you've been slapping me around on the leaders board. You're too strong and experience for me to catch you. Has anyone read "Younger Next Year" by Chris Crowley? It's an outstanding book (and my favorite). It's for us guys in our 50's, 60's and 70's that aren't about to grow old.

Wed Jun 19 10:03:00 2013 OK my biking friend, "Live Strong'. Like Theresa said it's all mental when your on your bike. Good luck with your surgery, keep posting and I really hope to see you on the road this year.

Wed Jun 19 09:14:00 2013 Thanks for all the encouragement. I am having surgery tomorrow, and depending on how that goes, I hope to book the trip while still in the hospital. My wife and 3-year old grandson will be riding SAG. This will give my brand new Felt road bike a good break in.Frank - thanks for the offer, but looking at your stats, I don't think I could keep up with you :)

Tue Jun 18 22:52:00 2013 Greg if you are serious about the century ride let me know, I'll ride it with you. I to have cancer and know what it's like not knowing what tomorrow will bring. The only thing I can add to what has already been mentioned is to bring along music to help with the ride if you are so into it. Makes the miles go by faster. Just finished a ride from Hinckley to Carlton last month 112 round trip, 8.5 hrs with rest stops. Make your goal 12-14 mph and take the 19-20 when they are handed to you. And remember never stop pedaling. Oh yeah and I'm 68 years young.

Mon Jun 17 19:58:00 2013 Greg - Bicycling is 90% mental, 10% physical. Get a good sturdy bike & a good bike fit. Start riding early in the morning, pace yourself, ride at your level not anyone else's. Take plenty of water & healthy snacks. Map out your route, know where the toilets are & that includes shade, know what the weather forecast will be for the day. Take a change of socks, if you have access to a lake or river soak your feet for a little bit, dry feet, put on fresh socks. I am in my mid 50's, 40#s over weight, ride a good sturdy bike, & tell people to eat rocks when they tell me I should stay off a bicycle because of a serious health condition I have. Your body will let you know what you can do. Bicycling is liberating. It takes my mind off all the crap life throws at me. God's Speed & Never Give Up!

Mon Jun 17 14:08:00 2013 You've done 50 whats another :) Seriously all the same advice everyone has given don't be rushed and don't think you have to go faster then you do the best thing is to enjoy yourself stay hydrated and stay well fueled.

Mon Jun 17 12:32:00 2013 Hey Greg, I'm also one of the over 50 pedaling away. My suggestions for a century are these; 1/ pacing yourself at an easy pace. 2/ no hurries and enjoy the scenery. 3/ Take extra water, electrolytes, gels and snacks. 4/ Take breaks and streatch out the gams. Like my pal Joe said you've already have done the first 50. Also, prayers are said for your recovery from your cancer. Heal quickly my friend.

Mon Jun 17 10:01:00 2013 @Greg~ Go at a pace that is comfortable for you. That's my best and only advice to you.You'll hear people say do this, and do that; when in reality DO WHAT WORKS FOR YOU!! Who cares if it takes ya 8 hours or 14..... Do your own thing.You've already done 50 and said you felt strong. IMHO you're already there!! You've obviously got your under carriage used to the miles, what's another 50?? !! ;)Getting tips from others would be pointless. Not being a jerk just saying..... YOU are the one out pedaling the miles. As far as what happens after the 50 mile mark; everyone is different. Just know that whatever your body does, give it a few extra miles to work itself out before you pull the plug on your goal of a hundy!! For me, around mile 75ish or so, i get "hot feet" each and every time. It's hard to explain, but my feet feel like they're on fire. This goes away as fast as it comes on in about 3-4 miles. Weird weird weird. LolGOOD LUCK and HAVE FUN!!!Peace, Joe

Mon Jun 17 09:44:00 2013 I was wondering if any can pass on some advice regarding riding a century. On Saturday, I finished my first 50 mile ride, and I felt really strong. If it wasn’t for the rain and the lack of water, I feel like I could have kept going. Usually, after about 40 miles, I am toast for a couple of days, but I was able to get out the next day and get another 40 mile ride in (and felt pretty good during and after the ride). So, now I want to set my goal on riding a century. The problem is 1) I am about 40 lbs overweight, and 2) over 50 and not in great shape, and 3) in January this year I was diagnosed with stage 4 Cancer. Looking around, there are many 8-12 week training plans for riding a century, but I am not sure that I have that amount of time. So I am looking at the 1st week of July instead and seeking any tips, especially regarding pacing. My warm up period tends to be to the end of the driveway and then I go full out as long as I can, then coast, then full out. On Saturday, I tried to pace myself in 15 minute increments (15 minutes at 16-20 mph, then 15 minutes at 12-15 mph) and that seemed to work out better, but if there is anyone that remembers their 1st century and could pass on some advice, I would be grateful.

Mon Jun 17 09:33:00 2013 I just run them over with my big boy tires!!! Ha Ha Ha J/K!!!Seriously though, I've never given those dirty birds a 2nd thought. I deal with a crabby old male every weekday morning. A lot of hissing and gutless charges, not much more. I did a quick stop on him last week; he flew right by me, and then he didn't know what to do. LolI told him I'd never mess with their babies, but I don't think he understood me. ;)

Sat Jun 15 16:15:00 2013 At Larry Smith---I used to be intimidated by geese on my route to and from work. One time I started "barking" at them in my loudest dog imitation voice----they ran like crazy and it worked every time.

Wed Jun 12 05:56:00 2013 Bear on Bike! Okay so the Black Bear wasn't riding a bike, but we did see him walking down the Mesabi Trail near Chisholm yesterday evening. One look at us coming up behind him on the trail and he was gone off through the woods. A lot of good wildlife sightings this year on the trail.

Tue Jun 11 11:22:00 2013 Hey Crystal, not sure yet. I'll probably hang close to the metro and pound the pedals till my quads say Uncle. Where are you off too? Brother Joe, You're right about the blog. I always consult Chris's blog. It's chalked full of great bike information.

Sun Jun 9 00:41:00 2013 Today was the annual Lake Wobegon Caremal Roll Ride - What a great day! We saw many riders from all parts of Minnesota, and a few from North Dakota, Wisconsin, & Illinois. Thank you all for coming out to make this a successful ride.

Fri Jun 7 16:57:00 2013 Marty...hubby is keeping a safe distance...he knows how owlie I get if I can't cycle. I have been resting, drinking lemon/honey hot toddies, & eating a lot of chicken noodle soup. I did bike today, but I feel like a wet dishrag.

Fri Jun 7 09:00:00 2013 Out of all the miles I bike; the miles with our young ones are both rewarding and frustrating!! I'll take both, because I'm a dad, and they're taught life lessons on each and every ride!!! What can be better than that!!!As they've gotten older, they're able to do more and more miles, with less and less supervision. Rewarding to say the least!! Pedal On!!Peace

Wed May 22 08:11:00 2013 @Marty~ The 9:zero:7 because of the lower stand over height of the frame design, and it came in an XS sized frame. We had wanted to keep our hard earned $$$$ here in town, but our LBS didn't (at the time) want to do a 9:zero:7 build. I have a friend in Eagan who's wife has XS frame, anyway long story short, we had Penn Cycle Eagan build Z's 9:zero:7. We're starting the ball rolling on a 9:zero:7 build for our soon to be 7 year old little girl. She's pumped to join the "Fat Club!!"Ok, why the Pugs........ At the time, 2009 there were no complete builds out there. Minus FatBack, cause I never really thought about them and I was hung up on the Pugs. My LBS can get Surly products at the drop of a hat. So it was a no brainer to go with Surly. I love the ride of steel, also a no brainer to go with the Pugs.... So I slowly gathered the build piece by piece. I couldn't be happier with my choice!! Sold my road bikes, and my FS MTB is my spare bike, which hangs in the garage.The Moonlander IMHO is over kill for our area. Cool as hell pedal bike, but more bike than I need. Nice thing about the Pugsley and the 9:zero:7, everything except the seat post is swappable. So when my Pugs frame goes bye bye, I'll be replacing it with a 9:zero;7 frame. My dream bike would be a TI FatBack..... In time!! Lol

Wed May 22 00:29:00 2013 Your 9 year old rides a 9:zero:7? What a stud. Not sure yet. I've ridden the Pug, Muk and Moon. I think the 9 zero and the fatback is too fancy pants for me. I like the idea of supporting our local QBP product. Not sure if the Moonlander is a bit big for me (age is shrinking me). I need to test all three again. Why did you choose the Pugsly?

Mon May 13 08:29:00 2013 Rode to Webster, WI for a 60th surprise Birthday party on Saturday....tale of two days of spring 2013. Riding up into NW headwinds of 20-25 with gusts up to 50 mph. Almost got blown off the road! Managed some shelter on River Road north of St. Croix Falls - beautiful road by the way. Return trip was glorious with bright sunny skies and mostly tail winds. Got home over an hour quicker! 220 miles total.

Sat May 11 00:26:00 2013 Rode the 100 mile Minneapolis American Diabetes Tour de Cure route today. Excellent route. The ride is on Saturday June 1. Signup today, have fun, and Stop Diabetes. Everyone on this leaderboard is already trained, I will see you there. http://main.diabetes.org/goto/Greg.Fenzl

Fri May 10 10:52:00 2013 @Brandon D, the Mesabi Trail rocks. I've biked it, but never rode the Great River Energy Ride. Looks like this summer my Dad, Son and myself will be riding it. Looking forward to it.

Tue May 7 00:53:00 2013 Bea...is the Big River Riders going to be a small team or medium size team? I like to get out there and ride and really don't care how many riders we have on our team. The Challenge is exciting..... check the different communities & see how many riders we have across MN.

Mon May 6 16:35:00 2013 Just signed up and joined the 3M team. Logged in my 4 rides for a total of 77 miles and will add more tonight. Getting ready for the MS 150 in June. I'd also be interested in the Mesabi Trail ride as it goes through my home town of Coleraine.

Mon May 6 11:08:00 2013 We usually ride the Great River Energy Mesabi trail ride every year. It's a great ride on an old railroad bed in the woods up on the iron range. Very scenic and fun, check it out.

Sun May 5 20:13:00 2013 Biked the Paul Bunyan Trail this weekend from Nisswa to Backus, and there was no snow on the trail that was of concern. In very few places the there was a little bit of snow on the trail....otherwise all clear. And only saw 3 other bikers...maybe it was the rain and 35 degrees??

Sun May 5 13:08:00 2013 I rode the Heartland Trail from Park Rapids to Dorset today. There are still places on the trail where I had to get off my bike and push it through the slush and snow. It looks like a week of warmer weather should melt these reamining spots away.

Fri May 3 12:02:00 2013 Marty~ awesome about your father still turning the pedals!! A perfect example of riding keeps one young!! :)Lots of good hills throughout the trail. One real good one west of hwy. 7 near Tacionite; and another east of Chisholm. Stop thinking and sign up!! LolA few of our team will be starting in Rapids, picking others up along the way. One of my children joins me in Hibbing, the other in Buhl. Good family fun!! Let me know if you guys decide to ride, we'll hook up for a few miles.Pedal On!!Peace

Fri May 3 11:39:00 2013 Hey Joe, I'm thinking about biking the Great River Ride with my Dad (he's 71 and rides everyday. Rockstar.). There's a big hill along the Mesabi (around the Virginia area) that got a little attention from me and my single speed Masi.

Wed May 1 01:10:00 2013 Thanks Theresa, I'm looking forward to riding with you. I finished the month of April with 544 miles. I will say that the twin cities plows the trails, so it's a tad easier to ride down here compared to what you Northerners get to ride on.

Tue Apr 30 23:41:00 2013 Marty...let us know when you plan to ride our trails in Central Minnesota. We are proud of our trails & would love to join you. Last year the two CMBC teams riding the National Bike Challenge met in Bowlus for a "Back Road Ramble". We rode 50 miles & met after for a cookout. A few cyclists rode a shorter distance. What an enjoyable day & great company! Thanks for joining our team my friend...we are going to have fun this summer!

Tue Apr 30 22:21:00 2013 Well, this starts tomorrow, and I won't be commuting by bike because I've got to go too far in too short a time, in the very wet rain (it's like that), sorry to drag you all down, but maybe later in the day I'll manage a ride.

Mon Apr 29 18:26:00 2013 I managed to get a few short rides in the last few weeks but the Heartland Trail is still covered with snow. I am hoping it will be open within a week or so. I'll do some highway miles until then.

Mon Apr 22 23:50:00 2013 I love this challenge. i am recently retired and started biking last summer. I don't think I will win any awards for speed or distance yet but will do my best. My goal is to ride The Continemtal Divide bike route for a charity. Don't want to wait too many yrs. to do it. I am 66 yrs. old.

Thu Apr 18 17:04:00 2013 Well here it is April 18, 2013, 30 degrees been snowing for over 12 hours, 4+' of snow so far with 3-6 inches more in the forecast plus winds.... I can't get the door on the pole building open to get to the bike even if I wanted to attempt outdoor riding.. AARRGGHHH!! did see 7 snowmobiles yesterday, riding is still good!!

Sun Mar 17 10:07:00 2013 Hello everyone (or anyone)! This is my first time participating in this challenge. Honestly, I have never heard of it before but think it's a great idea! None of my coworkers ride but I'm hoping to get them involved. I'm also trying to get my husband involved He has a much shorter commute than I do, but we ride a lot after work. We also invested in a Tour de France stationary bike this winter for off season riding. (can those miles also be counted for the challenge?) We are recreational riders. Neither one of us participate in races. We've done a few rides here and there but we have our own personal challenges that we work on. Including this one!

Sat Sep 29 09:13:00 2012 The spectacular moon this morning was like a reward/gift for riding to work at o'dark thirty all week.

Thu Sep 20 20:09:00 2012 Thanks Carol. If my Meniere's Disease (vertigo) doesn't act up, I'll be riding, otherwise, I will be bummed, to train all this summer & miss out on the ride of all rides. Week of Sept. 15th I rode from Park Rapids to Itasca S.P. Around the park as much as the park rangers would let me. Then back to Park Rapids. What an awesome ride! Another ride I did twice this summer is The Northwoods 110. Lake Bemidji to Baxard on the Heartland/Paul Bunyan State Trails. If the state ever finishes the additional 10 miles to Crow Wing S.P., then it will become the Northwoods 120. Worth checking out next year, or if you can get up there in the next few weeks. Thanks again, Take care.

Thu Sep 20 20:09:00 2012 Thanks Carol. If my Meniere's Disease (vertigo) doesn't act up, I'll be riding, otherwise, I will be bummed, to train all this summer & miss out on the ride of all rides. Week of Sept. 15th I rode from Park Rapids to Itasca S.P. Around the park as much as the park rangers would let me. Then back to Park Rapids. What an awesome ride! Another ride I did twice this summer is The Northwoods 110. Lake Bemidji to Baxard on the Heartland/Paul Bunyan State Trails. If the state ever finishes the additional 10 miles to Crow Wing S.P., then it will become the Northwoods 120. Worth checking out next year, or if you can get up there in the next few weeks. Thanks again, Take care.

Wed Sep 19 20:49:00 2012 It's a really pretty ride Theresa----you'll like it. Fingers and toes---those are always the hardest for me to keep warm---and cover your head for the coldest hours---the rest of your body does amazingly well at manufacturing its own heat with a little wind protection. Have FUN !

Wed Sep 19 20:49:00 2012 It's a really pretty ride Theresa----you'll like it. Fingers and toes---those are always the hardest for me to keep warm---and cover your head for the coldest hours---the rest of your body does amazingly well at manufacturing its own heat with a little wind protection. Have FUN !

Tue Sep 18 23:10:00 2012 Gearing up to ride the Headwaters 100 (Park Rapids, MN). The morning temps on Saturday is forecasted for around 37 with a wind chill of 34ish. High around 50. This should be an adventure.

Sun Aug 12 01:12:00 2012 If you're looking for Minnesota trail information for your next ride check out MN Bike Trail Navigator. It's a great resource of trail information and map link source for cyclists. Use it to plan your next ride. http://mnbiketrailnavigator.blogspot.com

Tue Jul 17 23:37:00 2012 For any bikers in the Longfellow neighborhood of Minneapolis, the Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition is hosting a happy hour at Longfellow Grill on Tuesday at 5pm. Hope to see you there!

Tue Jul 17 12:44:00 2012 went for a ride last night; was 94 when I left, 1+ hours later when I got back it was a cool 83 and the sun was low enough that it was quite enjoyable. A nice 17 miles only saw 2 squirrels and 5 other bikers on the Mesabi trail.

Wed Jun 27 15:23:00 2012 a few days a go I had 2 days back to back of over 500 miles, 533 and the next 558, even though it was on a powered 2 wheel device my backside was still very tired. Now I'm back on the pedal powered machine...

Sat Jun 23 22:56:00 2012 Ronalee~like I said, it truly makes no diffence!! Just as long as you're having fun, comfortable; so forth and so on. If you've been away from pedaling, or just getting started; we all have to start somewhere! ;)Pedal On!!Peace

Wed Jun 20 08:18:00 2012 "When the spirits are low, when the day appears dark, when work becomes monotonous, when hope hardly seems worth having, just mount a bicycle and go out for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride you are taking."- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Sun Jun 17 13:59:00 2012 Got out solo again today before it started raining again. The weather looks kind of bleak for much riding this week. I want ride to work a couple of days-will just need to keep an eye out I guess.

Tue Jun 12 13:41:00 2012 Yesterday was the first day in awhile that I didn't ride my bicycle somewhere. I know I had riden at least 72 days in a row. I never set out to keep track at all, just one day at a time.

Tue Jun 5 23:06:00 2012 Rode the inaugural Ride Northeast Sat. What a way to see NE Mpls. Did two(2) tours around the course( probably the only one who did!) Definite for next year. Saw you there Kurt.

Fri Jun 1 13:43:00 2012 Awesome effort Raymond. Way to go, and glad you met your goal. I, too, went to the Reveal the Path last night. Great biking story. I also met my (ridiculous) goal of hitting 1500 points, despite the fact that I still can't figure the whole points thing out.

Fri Jun 1 13:22:00 2012 I'm heading home from work yesterday and I need to complete 25 miles to reach 1000 miles for May. I shred a tire with 5 miles to go and need to get picked up.I forgot about my mileage goal until after the Reveal the Path bike adventure movie at Riverview last night. So, it's after 10 and I'm grabbing another bike and heading to Cub...got those last 5 miles in the bank!

Wed May 23 19:54:00 2012 Got to experience an "urban Cyclocross" on the Cedar Lake Trail, Midtown Greenway and Minnehaha Creek Trail this afternoon. A lot of very large limbs down - I shifted what I could, but many were too heavy - and was left to carry my bike over a couple times. Actually made the trip a bit more exciting!

Sat May 12 18:05:00 2012 Rode the Bike:MS ride up in WBL/Scandia today! Gorgeous weather, great volunteers and nice riders! Of course, ending the course on uphills for the last 10 miles kind of bit after 40 miles....